Exhibition curator

Exhibition curators organise and display artworks and artefacts. They work in and for museums, art galleries, museums for science or history, libraries and archives, and in other cultural institutions. In general, exhibition curators work in artistic and cultural exhibition fields and events of all kinds.

The following job titles also refer to exhibition curator:

art gallery curator
exhibits coordinator
exhibition overseer
exhibits manager
exhibition superintendent
museum curator
exhibits curator
curator of exhibitions
exhibits preparator

Master’s degree is generally required to work as exhibition curator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Exhibition curator is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to exhibition curator.

art restorer
conservator
collection manager
programme funding manager
archive manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of exhibition curator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of exhibition curator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of exhibition curator.

Art collections: The variety of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and other works that form collections in a museum and prospective new collections which are of interest for a museum or art gallery.
Cultural projects: The purpose, organisation and management of cultural projects and related fundraising actions.
Inheritance council practices: Principles and approach to treat heritage appropriately within a project in order not to damage and where possible improve its conditions.
Art-historical values: The historical and artistic values implied in examples of one’s branch of art.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
Museum databases: The tools and processes involved in working with museum databases.

These skills are necessary for the role of exhibition curator.

Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
Coach employees: Maintain and improve employees’ performance by coaching individuals or groups how to optimise specific methods, skills or abilities, using adapted coaching styles and methods. Tutor newly recruited employees and assist them in the learning of new business systems.
Work in an organised manner: Stay focused on the project at hand, at any time. Organise, manage time, plan, schedule and meet deadlines.
Ensure safety of exhibition: Ensure safety of exhibition environment and of artefacts by applying safety devices.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Provide project information on exhibitions: Provide information on the preparation, execution and evaluation of exhibitions and other artistic projects.
Use ict recources to solve work related tasks: Ability to choose and use ICT recources in order to solve related tasks
Apply strategic thinking: Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.
Plan resource allocation: Plan future needs of various resources such as time, money and specific process resources.
Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
Listen actively: Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Organise an exhibition: Organise and structure an exhibition in a strategic way, making the artworks more accessible to public.
Interact with an audience: Convey the artistic values of the art form(s). Respond to the reactions of your audience and involve them.
Coordinate operational activities: Synchronise activities and responsibilities of the operational staff to ensure that the resources of an organisation are used most efficiently in pursuit of the specified objectives.
Advertise an art collection: Write catalogues, research documents, articles, reports, policies, standards and project grant proposals.
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
Have computer literacy: Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.
Evaluate art quality: Correctly evaluate the quality of art objects, artefacts, photographs and documents.
Cope with challenging demands: Maintain a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands such as interaction with artists and handling of artistic artefacts. Work under pressure such as dealing with last moment changes in time schedules and financial restraints.
Work independently on exhibitions: Work autonomously on the development of a framework for artistic projects such as locations and workflows.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Create new concepts: Come up with new concepts.
Communicate in english in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of exhibition curator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Archaeology: The study of the recovery and examination of material culture left behind from human activity in the past.
Anthropology: The study of development and behaviour of human beings.
Natural history: The history of natural organisms and ecosystems.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of exhibition curator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Liaise with financiers: Liaise with people willing to finance the project. Negotiate deals and contracts.
Support public access to exhibitions: Work with the staff of the education and visitor services, assist in improving communication to support public access to the exhibition. Contribute to the promotion of these projects and to related publications.
Advise museum director: Work closely with museum directors in specific content and programme for an exhibition or artistic project.
Evaluate cultural venue visitor needs: Assess the needs and expectations of museum and any art facility visitors in order to regularly develop new programmes and activities.

2621 – Archivists and curators

References

1. Exhibition curator – ESCO